Enjoy these poems and please email the poets (where applicable) and give them some feedback!

SOUL OF THIS MAN 

Past problems present painful premonitions for present predicaments
Soul searching for salivation; singing silent songs sweet sorrow is what's sent
Weeping eyes wipe away woeful worries and whispering wisdom through winter ways
Dodging deaths doorsteps, destined for disappointment, doomed for disheartening days
Trying to taint torture through trying times and tearful torment
Bonding bruised hearts that was badly damaged, bruised, and bent
Forgetting faith for it finally failed and forsaken future fantasy
Multiple memories in my mind make me malice toward many and misleading me
Hailing happiness, hoping it hovers heavenly over my head
Accepting allies to assist all against anguish and anxiety
Realizing reality is right and respectfully resenting it
Evaluating expectations and expecting to exceed excellence
Opening opportunities for others to operate on overbearing odds
Sending signals to my soul to save me from solitude
Past problems present painful premonitions for present predicaments
Soul searching for salivation; singing silent songs sweet sorrow is what's sent
Weeping eyes wipe away woeful worries and whispering wisdom through winter ways
Dodging deaths doorsteps, destined for disappointment, doomed for disheartening days
Trying to taint torture through trying times and tearful torment
Bonding bruised hearts that was badly damaged, bruised, and bent
Forgetting faith for it finally failed and forsaken future fantasy
Multiple memories in my mind make me malice toward many and misleading me
Hailing happiness, hoping it hovers heavenly over my head
Accepting allies to assist all against anguish and anxiety
Realizing reality is right and respectfully resenting it
Evaluating expectations and expecting to exceed excellence
Opening opportunities for others to operate on overbearing odds
Sending signals to my soul to save me from solitude

Shawn A. Goins (c) sagg@methode.com

================================================================
WHAT IS SUCCESS?

In this world we live in, how do you measure success
Is it wearing a business tie with a corporate vest
Do you need a fancy car to show that you made it
Or a pair of snake skin shoes created to custom fit
Is it the social parties with people smiling in your face
Co.-workers who laugh behind your back waiting to take your place
Do you need to act different to show people you belong
Do you need to kiss up to make your career long
Is it now talking proper; no longer using slang
Knowing where you're going not where you came
Forgetting about the neighborhood where you grew up
Forgetting old friends who pulled you out when you were stuck
Keeping your wealth to yourself and not giving back
Wanting to be a Caucasian instead of being black
Being ashamed of your race and who you truly are
Are you scared if you're yourself you won't go very far
Sticking your nose up to the poor and their surrounding
Stomping on people when their soul already took a pounding
What about the people who doesn't wear a suit
Are they less successful  because their rugged instead of cute
Success isn't measured  on someone's material things
Success is measured on the gratitude that someone brings
Helping people out instead of knocking them down
Not turning the other people cheek and giving help when their around
People should remember that success comes from within
With the right attitude and mind, you  in essence will already win

Shawn A. Goins (c) sagg@methode.com

================================================================
NO MORE ME

To love you for eternity
       is to love you till there's no more me.
To give you all I have and own
       to do the things that make you moan.
To share all of me high and low,
       to love you always - where ever you go.
To want the best for you in everything you do
       to just tell you again how much I love you.
To let you go when my heart says no
       to let you search for what you already know.
And when time is gone you'll know it was me
       for I will always love you - even past eternity.
Till there's no more me.

Robin C. Porter (c) z_porterrc@titan.sfasu.edu

================================================================
OUR MOMENT IN TIME
.
Robins singing in the corner of my mind,
revealing the time when
you and I hid between the trees,
kissing and embracing,
long into night as the stars graced the sky.
.
You graced my being with your time,
Our time....... so sublime,
filled with frequent escapes into the warmth of Fantasy
.
.
.......as we learned to Love,
and as we lifted our eyes
to the tomorrow's of yesterday.
.
.
I remember, the robin's song,
and the fragrance of the roses in your Hair,
cascading melodies into the hollow of our hearts.
.
.
Your face carved into the hollow of my Soul,
redrawn with each passing hour.
.
.
Fragrant breezes down guarded passages,
Secret Gardens where once we played
when all seemed perfect, and love was new
but, that was long ago....
.
.
Yesterday's love,
today's memory,
and tomorrow's fantasy of yesterday .......
becomes the enchantment that creates
the possibilities of what must be...
Our Moment in time...

Rodney Coates (c) coatesrd@casmail.muohio.edu

===================================================================================
HOW TO MAKE LOVE WITH YOUR CLOTHES ON

Take her out for a meal, lingering an hour afterwards just to talk. 
Put a note in each of seven balloons, listing on each an activity or 
goodie you know that she'd like. Let her pop one balloon each day to 
get her surprise. 
Bring her flowers. 
When she's talking turn toward her. Look her full in the face while she speaks. 
Ask about her dreams. "If time and money were no object, what would you enjoy doing?" 
Buy a helium balloon. Write your names on it, how many years you've been 
married, and your phone number. Then let it go. 
Giver her a foot massage with her favorite moisturizer. 
Tape a note to the bathroom scale that says "Just Right." 
Ask her about her favorites: colors, foods, movies, songs, days of the week, 
things to do on Saturdays, flowers, animals, perfumes, jewelry, clothes, etc. 
Arrange for a carriage or sleigh ride together. 
Go fly a kite together. 
Celebrate an "un-birthday" by bringing her breakfast in bed. 
Next time you're in an empty elevator together, give her a big kiss 
on the lips just before the door opens. 
Gently take her face in your hands, tracing her features with your 
fingertips like an artist drawing her face. 
Stock the bathroom with candles, soft music perfumed soaps or bath oil 
beads, a fresh towel, a bowl of grapes, a tub full of warm water, and 
something wonderful and refreshing to drink. Give her two luxurious 
hours to herself. 
Ask her if she were to write a book about her life, what would the title be? 
Start a "memories" box. Put items in it that represent special events 
in your life together. 
Buy seven pretty greeting cards. Make a list of seven things you like 
about her. Each day for a week give her a new card with an item off your 
list written in it. 
Sign the two of you up for dance lessons. 
Bring her home a copy of her favorite magazine. 
Pull her close. Kiss her finger tips, then the palms of her hands. 
Look her in the eyes and tell her you love her. 
Buy her a gift certificate from her favorite store or garden center. 
While in her presence, praise her in front of friends. 
Surprise her by doing a chore for her that she normally does. 
While she's sitting, massage her shoulders. 
Dedicate a song to her on the radio. 
Compliment her on her appearance. 
Send her a singing telegram. 
Catch her eye in a crowd and wink at her. 
Take her for a leisurely drive in the country. 
Read Song of Solomon together from the Bible. 
Take her on an exploration of nature in her favorite park or woodlands. 
Hold her hand whenever you walk with her. 
Read poetry to her. 
Rent a love story type movie to watch together. 
Bring her a glass of white grape juice in a goblet. 
Let her take a drink, then kiss her lips to taste it. 
Take her to an art gallery. 
Pray with her over her concerns. 
Rent a limo. Call her and tell her to be ready by a certain time. 
Arrive in the limo to pick her up, and go for an evening drive 
around town. 
Invite her on a long, leisurely walk around the neighborhood. 
Write a poem about her, presenting it as a special gift. 
Wash the dishes with her, asking about her day. 
Plan a picnic outing. Pack a basket with some of her favorite snacks. 
Take along a blanket to spread out on. Bring along a book of poetry 
to read to her. 
Turn down her side of the bed, and leave a love note on the pillow. 
Spend several minutes just kissing her lightly on the face, eyelids, 
forehead, nose, and chin. 
Have a glamorous picture of her made and framed for your desk. 
Have personal stationery made for her with her name imprinted. 
Ask her opinion on an important decision you've got to make. 
At an unsuspecting moment, sweep her into your arms and tell her 
that she's your best friend. 
Always make her your first stop when you come home after work. 
Plan a weekly date with her. Set aside three hours one day a week. 
Get out of the house and do things she likes to do. 
When you hear a song, take her in your arms and dance. 
Plan an overnight getaway at a Bed &Breakfast, and surprise her with it. 
Buy a pad of stick ups, leaving hidden love notes all over the house. 
Put on a tape or CD of her favorite "mood" music. 
Seat her at the dinner table. 
Dedicate a day to be her slave. 
Take her on a short cruise. Off-season rates are surprisingly low. 
Mail her a love letter. 
Get out your wedding photos and look at them together. 
Drive her to the local "lovers' lane", and neck. 
Carve each of your initials in a tree. Put a heart around them. 
For no special reason other than you want to, treat her to a day 
of her favorites: places to go, things to do, foods to partake of, 
et...as much as you can pack into one day. 
As a special gift, make a snapshot collage of her life. Include baby pictures. 
When she cries of has worries, hold her hand and listen. No need to offer 
advice, unless asked. 
Put effort into planning out the details of her next birthday celebration. 
Design a "life resume" for her, complete with a listing of all her strengths, 
talents, and skills. 
Next to each write a line or two about how she has displayed these in the past. 
Write her mom and dad thanking them for the daughter they raised. Give her a 
copy of the letter. 
Call her during the day just to tell her you love her and that you've been 
thinking about her. 
By her special house plant when she reaches a special goal. 
Leave a love note in her coat pocket. 
Before bed, offer to give her a scalp massage. 
Bury a time capsule together in a special location. Put in it a love letter 
you want her to read when you dig it back up. 
Light a fire and snuggle up. 
Set up a table in your bedroom for a private dinner. Use a table cloth, 
your best china, and candlelight. Spoon feed each other. 
Go to the public library. Whisper excerpts from classic romance books to
each other, i.e., Romeo and Juliet. 
If you and she are to be separated for a time by a business trip, wrap 
several little gifts to be opened, one-a-day for each day you'll be apart. 
Kidnap her for a special outing. 
Sit in the back row at the movies and kiss. 
When she walks alone into a crowded room, keep looking at her with a 
little smile on your lips that says, "She is mine". 
Stroll together through a public flower garden. 
Always put thought and planning into your anniversary. 
Do volunteer work together in a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or nursing home. 
Make a large cardboard sign with an attached stake. Write her name, 
followed by any form that suits you of "I love you," i.e., "You are 
my heart beat"..."You are my main squeeze"..."You steam my glasses..." 
Stake it out in your yard where she'll see it next time she heads for 
work or to run errands. 
Hire an airplane pilot to take you on a sight-seeing tour. 
Read to her in bed from interesting books. 
Open the car door for her, both getting in and getting out. 
Go for a hot air balloon ride together. 
Get all dressed up ad take her out to a fancy social event. 
Go for a walk on a beach. 
Leave a provocative message for her on the answering machine. 
Rent a bicycle built for two and take her for a ride...or ride single 
bicycles together. 
Renew your wedding vows. Write up a new set of commitments and pledges, 
then read them to her over a meal at your favorite restaurant. 
Say, "I'm sorry," even when you think you've been right. 
Buy ad space in your local newspaper. List reasons why she wins your 
award as wife of the year. 
Take her on a shopping spree in her favorite clothes stores. 
Take her to the airport just to sit ad watch people go by. Make up 
stories together about their lives--who they are, what they do, where 
they're going and why. 
Give her a locket with your picture inside. 
For no reason, other than you want to, buy her a piece of jewelry. 
Ask the simple question, "What can I do for you today, honey?" 
Tuck her in for a nap when she's tired or stressed out. 
Protect her from interruptions.

Amaziah Thompkins (c) amaziaht@hotmail.com